Chapter 387

    The Dobrescu duchy was a two month jaunt across the Empire, but that was only because Matt was able to use a real space crossing they controlled to cover most of the distance. A border duchy between Rusty’s and Harper’s respective kingdoms, they were in a strategic economic zone for goods that came from the border regions to the Capital.

    Something they had done as much as possible to take advantage of their various shipping ventures that moved goods to and through their lands. And as one of the strongest and most influential duchies in the Empire, a lot of trade moved through their holdings, if for no other reason than to tap into their network of trading partners.

    There were also rumors that they had a sponsored pirate fleet, which doubled Matt’s interest in talking to them. Even if the rumor was false, they had more experience in dealing with pirates than he did.

    When he entered their duchy capital, he was immediately contacted by a representative of the household stationed at one of their extensive space platforms.

    As he responded with the purpose of his visit, Matt looked to the infrastructure with a critical eye.

    As a noble who had been dealing with trade, he had a new appreciation for the space stations and the various methods they used to move goods around.

    He could see Tier 15s flying with spiritual items, fast ships with expanded holds meant for shorter-range ventures, and lastly, massive mundane ships that moved slowly between points with gargantuan cargo holds wrapped in just enough metal and enchantment to keep them together.

    Each had their use cases, but what caught his eye was how organized it all was.

    That, combined with the mile long ships that docked at the various space platforms to dock and transfer goods and people both ways, gave the area an almost ocean-like feeling to the sight.

    He was appreciating the ease at which a fifteen mile long cargo ship swung itself into place, guided solely by a Tier 15 pilot, when a pulse of spiritual perception brushed up against him.

    “You aren’t here to break anything, are you?”

    The tone of the message was playful, but there was an undercurrent of wariness which pulled his attention away from the sight and down to Silvia Dobrescu, who was ascending from the planet below.

    “What would give you that idea?”

    Seeing he wasn’t angry, Silvia seemed to relax and gestured to the largest station. “One of my retainers was convinced that you were here to cause trouble and hit the proverbial— and literal I guess— panic button.”

    Matt rolled his eyes and let her see it.

    “I told him that I was here to ask you a few questions, and I didn’t lie. I—” Matt paused as he realized how they must have interpreted that. “I really only wanted to chat. I needed an outside perspective and you seemed like the right person to talk to.”

    The Tier 22 inspected him for a moment before nodding. “I’m willing to chat, but you must realize how on edge everyone is with your recent actions.”

    “Apparently not.” Matt couldn''t help grinning.

    That earned a snort, and the two of them descended to the Tier 33 planet below.

    When they entered the flying island, Matt was impressed by how austere it was. Not that it wasn’t nice, but with the Dobrescu family background as a former corporation who had taken over a duchy, he had expected more of a corporate vibe. Instead, the entire island had an understated elegance about it.

    Matt could feel several higher Tiers circling around them and tracked one that was moving to intercept them.

    “That''s slightly eerie, I must say.”

    “Hmm?” Matt looked over to Silvia.

    “They way you are tracking my guards. I know you can’t feel them via the normal senses, but you are locking onto them a little too well.”

    As she said that, a dour looking man Matt identified as Silvia’s seneschal entered and finished leading them into a sitting room that was prepared with finger food and a variety of drinks.

    “An instinct of sorts. Similar to combat senses but more esoteric. Always good to know where a threat might be, after all.”

    “A laudable goal and a necessity for one in your position. You said you wanted to talk to me; last we talked, you didn’t want a trade deal but has that changed?”

    Her small smile told him she knew all about his troubles, so he didn’t bother to beat around the bush.

    “Not exactly. I wouldn’t mind working out a trade deal, but I came more to bounce ideas off you after my latest troubles and see what you think?”

    “And you think one such as I can help one as august as yourself?”

    Matt sighed as she dodged the question. “Yes, but if you don’t want to help, I''m not going to overstay my welcome.”

    Silvia’s friendly demeanor slid away until she had a blank, unreadable expression on her face.

    A moment later she said, “You are an enigma, Ascender Titan. Very well. I will help you, but in return I want a favor. How large can depend on how helpful you find my advice.”

    Matt grinned as they cut through the bullshit. “I won’t do anything I don’t agree with. But if you can accept that stipulation, sure.”

    Silvia’s smile was genuine as she reached across the table and shook his hand.

    Matt didn’t miss the nervousness of the guards he could feel circling, but didn’t comment.

    “Your ‘troubles’ are quite interesting, Ascender Titan. I must ask, do you know what you have done?”

    Matt played dumb. “I know exactly what I’ve done, but I can’t say how others are interpreting my actions.”

    Silvia''s smile looked like she had caught a fish, and he was reminded that she was, in fact, a heron bloodline.

    “And they say Ascenders can’t play politics. That was a good answer. If you are coming to me, you must realize that you are being targeted by an unknown force, but since you didn’t start blasting the moment you arrived, you must not think we had anything to do with it. Given the rumors about our family and pirates, which I can assure you are false, you must want my thoughts on who might have such power to pull off the attacks, yes?”

    “It''s a good start.”

    “I’ll be direct as that seems to be your style: I don’t know.”

    Matt frowned at the answer, but Silvia continued. “I may be wrong, but I sincerely doubt anyone with direct connections to the shipping industry is responsible. It would be too easy to trace back to them, where someone who had few if any direct connections to the shipping industry can act with more indiscretion if they have enough resources.”

    “I’ve considered that, but all four attacks on me have been space-based. That could be bait, but it''s the only lead I have to go after. With that in mind, you must see why it seems that whoever is behind this has control over space-based travel.”

    He didn’t like what she had to say, but she was entirely right, and he immediately sent a message to Liz that they should gather everyone close to them to their duchy. They would be interfering with their friends'' lives in a way they really didn’t like to do, but if anyone, his enemies or some unknown bystander wanting to stir the pot, hurt his friends, he would go on a rampage.

    He would also have to make sure that he got that information to his enemies.

    “I would appreciate it if you spread the word through your contacts that I will play this game. But if they touch my friends, I will pull in every favor I have to not just burn them down, but salt the earth.”

    Rhea waved her acknowledgement even as she sauntered down the hall.

    Silvia smiled as his attention returned to her. “In this instance, I must agree with my mother. Best to be ready for escalation while not seeking it yourself. Still, you seem to be handling yourself well.”

    “As much as I appreciate the kind words, none of that really helps me with my current issue. My guild lost several important shipping contacts, I apparently can’t trust my duchy’s largest export shippers, and I have a mole in my guild who is able and willing to pass on sensitive information.”

    When Matt moved to stand, Silvia raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that why you came to us? I half assumed your previous comments were a front to get in the door and a better starting position. ”

    “Not particularly. When we talked last, you said your company wasn’t looking to expand into my region of the Empire. I assume that hasn’t changed. I just wanted to pick your brain about the attacks.”

    Silvia refilled his wine glass where it sat on the table. “Things change constantly. You were an unknown variable a century ago. While you are still a conundrum, I have learned several important things.”

    “So you are willing to make a deal?” Matt sat back down as he asked.

    “Let me answer your question with a question. Two questions, actually. How far are you willing to go to defend your guild, a guild that makes you no money and is from all reports a money pit?”

    When she stopped after one question, Matt gestured for her to continue, but she waved him on, not speaking.

    Sighing, he met her eyes. “Do you know why I care? Why I throw money at charitable endeavors that have little benefit to me? Why I don’t try and make any kind of a profit with the inventions my guild makes? Why I made the aura rift creation methods free instead of selling them? First and foremost, I could have been the people they help. I was them. I was given opportunities thanks to a lot of people. Not all of them were selfless, but they were still there and gave me the ability to take advantage of further opportunities. Part of it is wanting to pay that back. But another part is, I just want to make things better. I have power, and want to use it for good. I also just enjoy aperology and sharing my creations, like any artist. People don’t seem to believe me, but it''s really that simple. So to answer your first question, I will fight this fight until I have nothing left to give, and it''s not so easy to wear me down.”

    They sat there for a long few moments before she said, “A good enough answer. My second question isn’t meant to offend, so don’t interpret it that way. But are you willing to throw the established industries a bone if something big enough comes across? You clearly care about the lower Tiers, but if you were to discover something similar to the aura rifts, but with an already established interest... Are you willing to work with those established in the industries?”

    Matt frowned and let her see it. “My initial answer is no, but frankly, it depends. I’m not stupid enough to say it can’t happen, but it''s unlikely. I think my opening of patents has been generous, as it allows more competition and design variation, letting businesses that would never be able to afford such patents a leg up. But at the same time, I also realize I live in the real world and have agreed to oversight by the Empire itself. So yes, I can take a step back if needed, but I wouldn''t do so for a business deal, if that is what you are implying.”

    He figured that would disqualify him from working with her, but that was fine. He hadn’t lied when he said he had only come for information and to see what she thought about his attackers.

    However, Silvia surprised him by smiling. “I can work with that. I don’t ask because I want you to keep things secret or anything so droll, but rather that I don’t want to work with someone who can’t see the real world for what it is. And frankly, some of your actions could be construed as such.”

    Matt wanted to take offence, but thinking about the Ascenders he knew, that wasn’t a far-off description.

    “That said, I frankly offer a lot in this agreement where you don’t and can’t. Aura potions are nice, but they aren’t worth rerouting even a single ship over to your region of the Empire. I need at least five percent over the standard shipping agreement for all goods moved, and a ten percent discount on all goods bought in your duchy. Secondly, I’d want ten million aura potions, types to be specified later, to be buyable at cost.”

    Matt scoffed even as he leaned back into his chair for a long debate.

    “I’d rather publish the shipping records myself so bandits can steal them all rather than be fleeced like that. My duchy may be new and out of your company''s typical range, but you aren''t our only option. I know people in the space industry.”

    “Oh please, the Mallick clan? They could stuff their holds with every aura potion they can fit and not make a dent in what your duchy makes, which my ships could move. In fact, they are welcome to take what they can. One of the agreements in signing on with my family is that we don’t have exclusivity clauses. We have minimums to ensure that our time and mana is respected to make the trip worth it, but we don’t care about the leftovers.”

    “I could start my own company.”

    “You could, and I’d wish you the best of luck in that. The expenses are enormous and don’t really pay off if you ever have a hold empty. There is a reason we always buy something when we sell something. A new company bleeds money for a long time. Five percent discount on goods bought in your duchy. My price is fair, as it would allow you access to our many partners which would solve your guild’s supply problem.”

    Matt waved that away as if he truly wasn’t concerned. “I already have a solution for that.”

    “Oh really?” Silvia leaned forward and batted her eyes, calling his bluff. “I’m listening. Impress me, Ascender Titan. As far as I know, most of the contacts that were cut, while not particularly rare, aren’t easily replaceable either. At least not in a duchy so young as yours.”

    “Self sufficiency is a laudable goal after all. One everyone should strive for.”

    Silvia snorted. “Specialization is how one becomes a master for a craft and makes the best items. Nine million aura potions sold at cost.”

    “You only say that because that lets you move said items around. Five million aura potions sold at a five percent markup, since you like the number five so much.”

    Their bargaining went on for another hour before they settled on a deal.

    The Dobrescu trading company would add Matt and Liz’s duchy to their trading routes and were contracted to move a majority of their aura potions from the duchy to their business partners at the various regional capitals.

    To make their trips worthwhile, they would be given a mild tax exemption for goods they bought and sold for the first century, so long as they didn’t undercut the local markets. They would also be given five million aura potions at a three percent markup per year, which would help round out their profits for the first century.

    The deal would also let him order a lot of the goods his guild needed through them, which would actually save them slightly thanks to the Dobrescu’s only acting as a go-between with their trade network of partners.

    That went both ways, however, and Matt was expected to prioritize others in the network for selling and buying goods where reasonable. That clause took almost a full ten minutes to hash out, because Matt refused to be held hostage with such a deal, and they went over each line with a fine-tooth comb, adding exceptions where he wanted.

    In the end, it wasn’t too onerous, but it was a commitment he’d need to remember, especially if he or his guild produced a product they wanted to sell. And given Silvia’s second question, he assumed this was her reason for asking it.

    Depending on what it was, Matt wasn’t against showing some mild favoritism to her network, but he also made it clear it was unlikely they’d ever actually sell anything. But she insisted it was a risk she was willing to take.

    The deal was more expensive than his previous ones, but Silvia assured him the goods would be protected both ways, and that if anyone struck out at her company like they had his previous suppliers, they would find the Dobrescus much harder nuts to crack.

    It wasn’t a declaration of undying and unyielding friendship, but it was what they needed here and now, and would act as a good stop-gap as Matt worked on his other project.

    Bespoke rifts had been on a bit of the back burner for a while now, but once he Tiered up and increased his mana generation, he was going to start prioritizing them.

    To do that he needed to get the rest of the way through Tier 26, which meant it was time he started delving seriously once more.

    If his enemies thought he was going to sit around while this lawsuit was ongoing, they had another thing coming.

    It was time to return to his roots.

    Delving like it was his job.